Coin-controlled opera-glass



(No Model.)

H. COSTELLO. OOIN CONTROLLED OPERA GLASS.

No. 440,249. Patented Nov. 11, 1890.

' UNrTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. COSTELLO, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COIN-CONTROLLED OPERA-GLASS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,249, dated November11, 18 90.

Application filed October 1, 1889. Serial No. 325,713. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

ful Improvement in Coin- Controlled Opera- Glasses, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a rearelevation, the handle being broken away. Fig. 3 is a section looking tothe right at line 3 of Fig. 2 through the locking devices. Fig. 4 is aside elevation of the locking devices, the case containing such devicesbeingin section and one tube of the opera-glass being removed. Fig. 5 isa horizontal section at line 5 of Fig. i. Fig. 6 is an edge view of thecase, the lower end being broken off. Fig. 7 is a detail of the pivotedplate in the case.

This invention relates to opera-glasses designed to be secured to thearms of operachairs in theaters and other places of amusement, and hasfor its object to render such opera-glasses incapable of use withoutfirst inserting a coin of the proper denomination into the case attachedto the opera-glass and containing the locking devices, which Iaccomplish as illustrated in the drawings and as hereinafter described.That whichIclaim as new will be pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, A represents an operaglass of the ordinaryconstruction, each tube of which is provided with a slot a, located ashort distance from the object-glass.

'b is a frame attached to the opera glass frame, to which frame I) thecase B containing the operating devices'is secured in any suitablemanner.

C is a plate pivoted at one of its lower corners by a pivot c to oneside of the case B. As shown,it is provided on the edge opposite to thepivot c with a projection d, rounded off a little on its upper cornerand having its lower edge inclined, as shown in Fig. 7.

e is a fixed hook formed with or rigidly se cured to the plate C.

Zis a spring secured to the case B and connected'with the plate C insuch manner as to keep the upper end of the plate thrown to one side, asshown in Fig. 4.

D is another plate in the case B at one side of the plate C. Attached toone face of the plate D and projecting slightly beyond one edge thereofis a piece f, the inner edge of which is curved, as shown in Fig. 3, tocorrespond to the circle of the coin to be used.

g is a block on the face of the piece f, near its upper edge.

h is a shoulder on the plate D, adapted to engage with the hook e. v

E is a slide, to which is securedthe piece f, which piece projects intothe case B through a long slot 7' cut in one edge of the case B. As thepiece fprojects beyond one edge of plate D, a groove will be formed whenthe piece f and slide E are secured together, into which one wall .9 ofthe long slot r projects, the wall 75 on the other side of the slotlying between the slide E and the block g. The slide is further heldclosely to the case by two side extensions 1', formed with the slide andbent over so as to lie against the sides of the case B. At the upper endof the slide E are two arrnsj, which are bent, as shown in Fig. 1, eachof which terminates in a shutter F, adapted to enter one of the slots atand prevent the opera-glass from being used by covering theobject-glasses.

k is a finger-piece on the lower end of the slide E.

m is a coin-slot in one side of the case B.

n is a piece secured to the case B above and at one side of thecoin-slot m, to direct the coin to the proper position in the case.

0 represents a coin.

1) represents a suitable door in the lower end of the case B, by openingwhich the coin inserted through the slot on can be removed.

G is a handle secured to the lower end of the case B.

q is a chain attached to the lower end of the handle G for securing thedevice to the back or arm of an operachair.

When the operaglass is first attached to an 0pera-chair or othersupport, the parts are to be left in the position shown in Fig. 3, inwhich the shutters F will be held opposite the object-glasses of theopera-glass and prevent its being used. In order to withdraw theseshutters so that the glass can be used, a coin of the properdenomination must be inserted in the slot m, when it will fall into theposition shown in Fig.3, one edge resting against the curved side of thepiece f and the opposite edge against the hook e, which hook is broaderthan the plateD and projects enough to one side of such plate to engagethe coin. The slide E is then to be pulled down by means of thefinger-piece 7a, which will cause the coin to bear against the fixedhook e and push it and the plate 0, to which it is rigidly secured, toone side, the block 9 at the same time passing to one side of theprojection d. When the center of the coin has passed the hook e, thecoin will be released and will fall into the bottom of the case B, fromwhich it can afterward be removed by the person having a key to the door17. As soon as the coin has dropped, the plate 0 will be forced back bythe spring lintoits normal position. When it is desired to againobstruct the tubes of the opera-glass by the shutters F, the slide E isto be pushed up, carrying with it the piece f and plate D, the block gon the piece f readily pushing past the projection d on the plate C, asthe lower end of the projection 61 is inclined and without a shoulder.As soon as the block 9 has passed the projection d the plate 0 will bereturned to its normal position,

so that the hook e will engage the shoulder h and stop the upwardmovement of the slide and the parts attached thereto. After being pushedup, the slide cannot be drawn down until another coin of the properdenomination has been inserted in the case B, as the .block g, coming incontact with the shoulder on the upper end of the projection (1, willprevent such downward movement.

The plate D and piece f can be'inade of a single piece, if desired.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is asfollows:

The combination, with an opera-glass having tubes provided with slotsat, and the case B, rigidly connected to said tubes and containing acoin-controlled mechanism,- of the vertically-movable slideE, secured toa moving part of said mechanism and carrying at its upper end the twoshutters F Radapted to enter the slots at and obstruct the objectglasses, substantially as shown and described.

THOMAS H. COSTELLO.

Witnesses:

ALBERT H. ADAMS, HARRY T. JONES.

